Homemade Laundry Detergent

     Well "Looks like we made it", Happy New Year to all.  So far so good, starting the year out great.  I woke up this morning and I am well. 
     What I'm going to start out the year by doing is showing how I make homemade laundry detergent.  I can not take credit for this, I found this recipe on www.thefamilyhomestead.com and have been using it ever since.  Check out the site, there are tons of other things on there that are very helpfull. 

Things that you need:

Fels Naptha, Borax, Arm & Hammer washing soda, and at least a 2 gallon bucket.

1/3 bar Fels Naptha
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax powder
and 2 gallon bucket


Here is how I make it:

 

 First thing is to gather your ingredients.

 

 

In 6 cups of water heat and melt 1/3 of bar of soap.

         

 

Once the soap is melted, add 1/2 cup of Borax and the washing soda, mix until dissolved.

 

 

 

 

Once dissolved, remove from heat

 

 

 

   

 

 

Pour 4 cups of hot water into the bucket

 

 

 

Now add your soap mixture and stir. Then add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir.

 

 

Let the mixture sit for 24 hours, and this is what you get.  Yes, it is a gel.  Use about 1/2 cup per load.  Now mind you, this is not a solid gel.  There is water under that there gel, you will have to mix it before you use it.

 

What I do is save a old detergent bottle, mix the new batch up and pour it in the bottle.  You do have to shake the bottle before you use any of it because it will settle again. 

 

There are other things that you may want to know also, this is a low to no sudsing soap.  Also if you want it to have any kind of fragrant you can add 1/2 to 1 oz of your favorite essential oil.  I myself just use regular fabric softner when I do my laundry.  My reason for this is cause I like to hang my clothes on the line in the summer and it helps them stay soft.   

 

Thank you and happy washing